MYSTERIOUS STRANGER & OTHER STORIES

This collection covers the author's best-known short stories, from the title piece to "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" and "The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg." They are, unfortunately, read rather boringly by Jonathan Kent. Kent tries to create a homey, folksy atmosphere with his understated, deep voice, but he doesn't capture the inherent wit or character of Twain's writing. Sentences, long in the first place, tend to go on too long, and many key words are underemphasized or swallowed. In addition, Kent doesn't give his character voices enough power, so they merely become louder, somewhat stranger versions of his narrator's tone. R.I.G. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 98]